laundry-tips-cat-dog-hair

How to Remove Unwanted Pet Hair from Laundry

What to do when there’s cat hair and dog hair everywhere

You love your pets—but you don’t love their hair showing up on your favourite clothes. Whether it’s dog fur on your shirt, cat hair in the towels, or the fluff that clings after every wash, pet hair can become a persistent laundry headache.

At Lead Household Appliances, as the [only] official importer and service partner for Speed Queen in Southern Africa, we’ve seen this challenge often — and we’re here with practical, machine-friendly tips to help you.

laundry-tips

1. Stop the Problem at the Source

Prevent pet hair from even reaching your washer

  • Give your pet a quick daily grooming session—brushing just a minute a day reduces loose hair.
  • Clean furniture, pet beds and floors regularly (vacuum or sweep). The less hair lying around, the less that ends up in your laundry.
  • Set boundaries: designate pet-free zones for clothes, laundry bags and beds where you don’t want hair to accumulate.

2. Tackle Pet Bedding & Heavy-Hair Loads

Dedicated cleaning for high-hair areas

  • Pet beds accumulate the most hair—wash any bedding your pet uses once a week.
  • When using a tumble dryer for pet bedding, pause halfway to clean the lint filter—this ensures better removal of hair during the remainder of the cycle.
  • If the bedding is large/heavy, check the capacity of your Speed Queen washer/dryer to ensure you’re not overloading.

3. Pre-Wash Steps for Clothes Heavily Covered in Hair

Give your fabrics a “hair shake-out” before the real wash

  • Start with a 10-minute tumble dryer cycle on “air” (no heat). This loosens hair off the fabric and helps the lint trap in the dryer catch it.
  • After that, shake your clothes well—this helps drop hair before you move to the washer.
  • Clean the lint trap from the dryer after this pre-cycle (always cleanup after each use) so the next load isn’t picking up leftover hair.

4. Wash Smart With These Adjustments

Use washes that support pet-hair removal

  • Add ½ cup of white vinegar during the rinse cycle. Vinegar helps relax fabrics and frees embedded hairs.
  • Choose a full (or extra) rinse cycle if possible, to ensure loosening and removing of hair.
  • Avoid overloading your machine—when garments are packed in tight, hair can stay trapped inside rather than being rinsed out.

5. Post-Wash Machine Care: Ensure Your Speed Queen Stays Hair-Free

Maintain your machine so it doesn’t become a hair-source

  • After a pet-hair heavy load, run an empty wash cycle (with hot water if fabrics allow) to clear out loose hair in the drum and plumbing.
  • Once done, wipe down the interior of the washer, lid, seal and exterior, removing any stray hair that may still be inside.
  • Don’t forget your dryer too—clean the lint trap, vacuum the vent/hose if accessible, and wipe down drum interiors to avoid hair buildup.

6. When to Call in the Experts

Even with all these steps, if you notice:

  • persistent lint/hair coming back onto clothes
  • clogged drain or vent causing poor washing / drying performance
  • odd noises, big performance drops or machine isn’t cleaning/drying properly

…then it might be time to get a technician in. At Lead Household Appliances, our service team uses genuine Speed Queen parts and follows factory-recommended procedures. That means longer life, better performance and fewer hair-related frustrations.

Meet our repairs technicians

Why This Matters for Speed Queen Users

Speed Queen machines are built for durability and heavy use. But no machine can perform at its best if unnecessary lint and pet hair are constantly present.

  • Hair can block filters and vents, reducing efficiency and increasing dry/clean times
  • Residual hair inside machines can transfer back onto items, defeating the clean look you expect
  • Proper upkeep means fewer breakdowns, less wear and tear, and preserving the full lifespan of your machine

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Quick Checklist

  • Daily: Brush your pet, spot-vacuum furniture.
  • Weekly: Wash pet bedding, clean lint filters, run a pre-dryer cycle for heavy-hair clothes
  • Monthly: Wipe washer + dryer interiors, run empty maintenance cycle, inspect vents
  • Every service-interval (12-18 months): Book a full machine check-up with Lead Household.

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